Pipe puller

Abstract

A pipe puller apparatus includes a body and a main actuator mounted on the body. A strut assembly is also mounted on the body and includes a first shoe and a second shoe. The first shoe is adapted to engage a first interior wall of a pipe and the second shoe is adapted to engage a second interior wall of the pipe. The strut assembly includes a strut actuator that is adapted to increase the distance between the first shoe and the second shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pipe puller apparatus, comprising:
 a body; 
 a main actuator mounted on the body; and 
 a strut assembly mounted on the body and including a first shoe adapted to engage a first interior wall of a pipe, a second shoe adapted to engage a second interior wall of the pipe, and a strut actuator adapted to increase the distance between the first shoe and the second shoe; 
 wherein the strut assembly includes a strut rotatably mounted to the body for rotation relative to the body and a pivot plate mounted to the body for rotation relative to the body, wherein the strut actuator is mounted on the strut and the strut actuator is adapted to rotate the pivot plate relative to the body, and the strut and the pivot plate rotate relative to the body on substantially the same rotational axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the main actuator is adapted to provide a force to pull a second pipe. 
     
     
       3. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strut assembly is rotatably mounted to the body. 
     
     
       4. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second shoe is rotatably attached to the pivot plate. 
     
     
       5. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first shoe is rotatably attached to the strut. 
     
     
       6. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a wheel mounted on the body and adapted to engage the second interior wall of the pipe in order to support the body relative thereto. 
     
     
       7. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the strut actuator is adapted to move the second shoe between an initial position wherein the second shoe is closer to the body than the wheel, and a set position wherein the second shoe is farther from the body than the wheel. 
     
     
       8. A pipe puller apparatus comprising:
 a body; 
 a main actuator mounted on the body; and 
 a strut assembly including a strut mounted on the body for rotation about a strut axle, a pivot plate mounted on the body for rotation about the strut axle, a strut actuator attached to the strut and the pivot plate and adapted to rotate the strut relative to the body about the strut axle and to rotate the pivot plate relative to the body about the strut axle, a first shoe mounted on the strut and adapted to engage a first interior wall of a pipe, and a second shoe mounted on the pivot plate and adapted to engage a second interior wall of the pipe. 
 
     
     
       9. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the strut actuator is adapted to increase the distance between the first shoe and the second shoe. 
     
     
       10. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the main actuator is adapted to provide a force to pull a second pipe. 
     
     
       11. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a wheel mounted on the body and adapted to engage the second interior wall of the pipe in order to support the body relative thereto. 
     
     
       12. The pipe puller apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the strut actuator is adapted to move the second shoe between an initial position wherein the second shoe is closer to the body than the wheel, and a set position wherein the second shoe is farther from the body than the wheel.